2007-05-05 14:05:25 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Why not believe in both?
The Catholic Church does not take the stories of creation in the Bible literally. Catholics believe the book of Genesis tells religious truth and not necessarily historical fact.
One of the religious truths is that God created everything and declared all was good.
Catholics can believe in the theory of evolution. Or not. The Church does not require belief in evolution.
On August 12, 1950 Pope Pius XII said in his encyclical Humani generis:
The Teaching Authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter - for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God.
Here is the complete encyclical: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_12081950_humani-generis_en.html
The Church supports science in the discovery of God's creation. At this time, the theory of evolution is the most logical scientific explanation. However tomorrow someone may come up with a better idea.
As long as we believe that God started the whole thing, both the Bible and modern science can live in harmony.
With love in Christ.
2007-05-05 19:39:45 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it does. There is a lot of evidence that evolution happens, and species evolve from other species. But it still takes a leap of faith to believe that all life on earth evolved from a single cell, and that consciousness evolved out of random associations of neurons. These are not proven facts and probably never will be.
Although the theory of evolution contradicts the creation story in Genesis, it can't explain where the first cell came from, or where the universe came from. Therefore, it doesn't rule out creation. Something had to be created before evolution could start.
2007-05-05 14:49:36 · answer #2 · answered by mr.perfesser 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Creationism is an easy answer that just says things are the way they are and doesn't look deeper. Evolution makes perfect sense as you see how things are related and how odd partnerships in nature over long periods of time came up with all sorts of intricate adaptations. Evolution does not require faith, just examination.
2007-05-05 14:12:49 · answer #3 · answered by novangelis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes faith to believe in something with out any type of sound evidence. Therefore, I would definitely say the creation idea takes way more faith.
2007-05-05 14:12:39 · answer #4 · answered by KS 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Believing in creation is just lazy.
2007-05-05 14:10:32 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ummmm......
Evolution = Fact
creation = Fiction
so, nope.
2007-05-05 14:11:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋